AAA says 45.1M people will hit the road and skies for Memorial Day, with South Carolina troopers launching summer safety campaign amid rising travel numbers.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Ahead of Memorial Day, AAA forecasts a record 45.1 million people will travel for the holiday weekend.
Tiffany Wright, AAA’s Director of Public Affairs, said Americans are ready to travel despite increasing prices.
“It’s going to be the most travelers we’ve seen in 20 years,” she said, “People are finding ways to travel and they’re not going to let higher prices this season stop them from doing so.”
AAA projects that a million more people will drive to their destinations this weekend than in 2024. Fortunately for those motorists, AAA says gas prices average 42 cents lower than last year.
Wright encouraged drivers to check their vehicles before heading out so they don’t experience one of AAA’s top three roadside issues.
“It’s flat tires, dead batteries, and lockouts. Nothing will ruin a holiday road trip like being stuck along (the) side of the road,” she said.
You won’t be alone if you choose to fly this holiday weekend. AAA says 3.6 million travelers will take to the skies.
Kim Crafton with the Columbia Metropolitan Airport said they definitely notice the uptick in passengers during Memorial Day.
“Historically, over holiday travel seasons and travel weekends, we see an increase in passenger traffic through the airport. On average, at CAE, we see about 5,000 passengers a day,” Crafton said.
She said 2025 is shaping up to be the airport’s busiest year ever, thanks to two new low-cost carriers that are beginning service at CAE.
“To see Allegiant start last week, on May 15 and then June 5 and June 6 Spirit flying to Newark, Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale, all these options open up for our region, and we couldn’t be more excited,” Crafton said.
Back on the roads, the South Carolina Highway Patrol is set to kick off its “100 Deadliest Days of Summer” campaign.
Master Trooper William Bennett explained the reasoning behind the extra focus during the summer.
“You know that’s that period starting Memorial Day weekend and going through Labor Day, and unfortunately that’s the time period where we usually do see an increase in the number of traffic fatalities,” he said.
Bennett said DUIs were a major issue last Memorial Day weekend.
“We had six fatalities and (in) half of those, impaired drivers were involved,” Bennet explained.
As part of the campaign, motorists can expect to see a trooper every 10 miles or so on the state’s highways, and an increased presence on smaller roads as well.
Both Trooper Bennett and Wright with AAA reminded drivers to slow down and move over when approaching emergency vehicles on the shoulder. That could include law enforcement, tow trucks, and even the motorist assistance crews from AAA and the SCDOT.
